Understanding Older Persons' Experiences of Care Encounters in the Home Environment: A Hermeneutic Study.
Anna Larsson Gerdin, Ylva Rönngren, Ove Hellzén and 2 others
PMID 39373060WHAT IT FOUND
Older people described home care visits as a lottery because they could not choose which nurse came.
They valued nurses who listened and explained, but felt overlooked when visits were rushed or nurses changed.
Key findings
01Older people experienced home care visits as unpredictable because they could not choose which nurse entered their home.
02Continuity with a familiar nurse and being asked about well-being were described as important for trust and engagement.
03Rushed or missed visits and nurses taking over without explanation made some older people feel overlooked or unsure of their own abilities.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study interviewed only a small number of older people in a Swedish municipality, so the themes may not transfer to other home care systems. Home care nurses helped select participants, which could bias the sample toward people who were co-operative or favourable. The analysis is interpretive, and the authors acknowledge that their own perspectives shaped the themes. The paper describes experiences and does not test whether any change in care would improve outcomes.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the described preference for continuity and listening as proof that these practices improve patient outcomes. The study reports older people's experiences, not tested effects.